Rail opponents pursue accelerated court hearing

~~<p>Plaintiffs in the federal case seeking to stop Hono&shy;lulu's planned elevated rail system requested Friday an expedited hearing on their appeal &mdash; a move they hope will lead to a court decision on the project before building can resume this fall.</p><p>The anti-rail group includes former Gov. Ben Caye&shy;tano, outspoken rail opponent Cliff Slater and University of Hawaii law professor Randall Roth. In December, visiting federal Judge A. Wallace Tashima allowed the city to proceed with construction on the $5.26 billion rail project. However, Tashima also required the city to further study rail's impact on Mother Waldron Park in Kakaako; the feasibility of an alternative downtown route under Beretania Street; and its effects on cultural sites along the 20-mile route.</p>~~

Plaintiffs in the federal case seeking to stop Hono­lulu's planned elevated rail system requested Friday an expedited hearing on their appeal — a move they hope will lead to a court decision on the project before building can resume this fall.

The anti-rail group includes former Gov. Ben Caye­tano, outspoken rail opponent Cliff Slater and University of Hawaii law professor Randall Roth. In December, visiting federal Judge A. Wallace Tashima allowed the city to proceed with construction on the $5.26 billion rail project. However, Tashima also required the city to further study rail's impact on Mother Waldron Park in Kakaako; the feasibility of an alternative downtown route under Beretania Street; and its effects on cultural sites along the 20-mile route. Login for more...